Submarine mine.



J. A. REY.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. I913- 1 151,902. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1. A. REY.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1913.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBXA PLANOGRAIH cu., WASHINGTON, n. c.

NEE

JEAN ALEXANDR-E REY, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

SUBllIARINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 31, 1915.

Application filed. June 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,301.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JEAN ALEXANDRE REY. a citizen of the French Republic, and residing at avenue de Suffren, Paris, France, engineer, have invented a new and useful Im arovement in Submarine Mines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in submarine mines of the type in which the mine on arriving at or near the bottom of the sea becomes detached from its anchor and unwinds its moorin rope which is wound upon a drum within the anchor.

According to this invention the mine on rising to the desired depth below the surface of the water automatically causes the drum in the anchor to be locked. This locking is effected by means of a jerk or sudden variation of mm ement imparted to the mooring rope at the required moment by mechanism inclosed in the mine; such sudden variation of movement may for example be either a momentary slackening or additional pull or a lateral jerk or an oscillation of the rope.

The mechanism which causes the drum to is locked may advantageously be formed of a diaphragm or the like and in this case the regulation of the depth of immersion of the mine may be caused by adjusting the pressure exerted behind such diaphragm.

In the accompanying drawings are illus trated several typical embodiments of the present invention.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal transverse section showing the relative position of the apparatus parts shortly after the buoy has left the anchor and is ascending; Fig. :3 is a similar'view of a modification; Fig. 3 is a similar view of still another modification.

Referring to the drawings a is the mine or buoy connected by a mooring cable 0! to its anchor b. The mooring cable passes through a suitable orifice in the top of the anchor, and is wound on a revoluble cable drum 0, which is provided with a suitable wheel fixed thereto and formed with tooth-like projections g. A lever or pawl A pivoted as at B has one of its arms bent as at C to en gage the teeth 9 of the drum wheel; while the other arm is bent downwardly and projects through a suitable orifice in the base of the anchor as at D, this portion or tail of the pawl being thus adapted to come in contact with the bottom of the body of water into which the mine is launched, and

thus to force the right-hand arm of lever A upwardly against the pressure of resilient member E approximately at the moment the anchor touches bottom. This withdraws the detent C irom bet veen the teeth of the drum wheel, leaving the drum free to rotate and to pay out the cable which is attached to the buoy. it should be stated that the buoy alone tends to float in water, while the combination of buoy and anchor as shown in Fig. 3 tends to sink. When submerged in water, therefore, the buoy exerts tension on the mooring cable at and tends to rotate the cable drum on which the cable is wound. Consequently after the drum has been released in the manner described, the buoy immediately separates from its anchor as shown in Fig. l continuing to rise until the rotation of the cable drum is arrested as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring now more particularly to the mechanism for arresting rotation of the cable drum, this mechanism may take various forms, but those clearly illustrated in the present figures have proved particularly satisfactory in practice.

In the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l the anchor b is shown as provided interiorly with a tension arrangement consisting of a pulley or the like Z around which passes the cable (Z, said pulley being carried by a stirrup member Z to which is secured one end of a. spring 12, whose opposite end is attached to the anchor, this spring tending to draw the stirrup member and pulley toward the left. Connected to the stirrup member is one arm m of a bell crank lever suitably pivoted to the anchor as at m, the other arm m" of which is provided with a hook or catch engaging a projection on a bolt 0. A spring 19 disposed in casing p tends to force the bolt toward the right and into engagement with the teeth q of the drum wheel and thus to lock the drum wheel against rotation. The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. l where the tension on the cable cl, due to the buoy, tends to draw the partsZ and Z to the right against the action of spring a, the opposing forces controlling lever arm at being thus normally balanced, and the locking bolt 0 being thus held out of engagement with the drum so long as the buoy exerts its normal upward pull on the cable. It is obvious that if tension on the cable be abruptly lessened, the spring n will thereupon act to draw lever arm m to the left to release the latch and permit the bolt The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is closely similar to that just described except that the arrangement for releasing the looking bolt is operable upon increase of tension in the mooring cable rather than upon decrease in'tension. In this modification, the parts Z, Z, n and m are arranged as before; but the other arm of the bell crank lever eX- tends toward the left and is arranged to engage an upwardly projecting portion of the bolt 0 which spring 10 tends to thrust toward the right as in the arrangement pre viously described. It will be seen that in this arrangement the bolt 0 will be released only when lever arm m is thrown to the right, this occurring when the tension in the mooring cable increases sufficiently above normal to disturb the balance.

Means will now be described for producing the necessary decrease or increase in the tension of the mooring cable for actuating the bolt releasing mechanisms of Figs. 1 and 2.' Whichever form of mechanism is employed, the required variation in cable tension or pull is most advantageously effected with the aid "of a device carried by the buoy or mine and sensitive to variations in hydrostatic pressure. Ordinarily this device may take. the form of a diaphragm arranged to be subjected on one side to the pressure of a compressed fluid Within the buoy; while the other side of the diaphragm or membrane is exposed to the pressure of i. the water surrounding the buoy, this latter pressure varying of course with the depth towhich the buoy is submerged. The interior pressureon the diaphragm may be effected in any other convenient manner as, for example, by a spring or the like. Ihe use of a compressed gas, such as air, is ordinarily most advantageous, however.

-. The diaphragm aboverdescribed is capable ofmoving slightly under variations in pressure on its opposite faces, and such permanently moored.

movement is utilized to actuate any suitable mechanism whereby the desired variation in cable tension or pull may be produced to lock the cable drum against rotation. The pressure on the interior face of the diaphragm may be accurately adjusted to any suitable intensity depending upon the exact depth below the surface of the water at which it is desired the buoy or mine shall be As the buoy rises after being released from its anchor, the

hydrostatic pressure on the exterior face of the diaphragm diminishes continuously; and if the pressure on the opposite face of the diaphragm has been properly adjusted, when the buoy has reached a point at the proper "depth below the'surface, the hydrocation with the exterior thereof through suitable apertures f. Secured to and arranged to move with said diaphragm is a rod or similar memberj provided with an eye 7' through which projects one arm of the bell crank lever i pivoted to the buoy as at z". The other end of the arm projects through one of the apertures 7" and has secured there:

to a pin 9 or the like which is arranged to slide in suitable guides or supports such as stirrups 72.. The pin 9 normally affords support for a ring d secured to the mooring cable at a point suitably distant from the end thereof, the end of the cable being secured as by means of an eye 76 or other appropriate means to the buoy. It is to be noted that in this arrangement the mooring cable has what maybe termed a reserve loop is of suitable length secured to the mine directly at 7? and indirectly through the me' 7 dium of ring d.

The closed chamber '0 completely sur rounding and inclosing the inner or rear face of the diaphragm is best provided with a cock to throi'igh which suitable fluid may be admitted until the desired pressure within said chamber is attained. As before stated, the. degree of this pressure depends upon the depth to which the mine is to be submerged, and it'may obviously be regulated to any extent necessary.

Means should be provided for preventing operation of the tension regulating mechanism until after the buoyant mine and its anchor have separated or mutually receded from their relative positions. -Any suitable means may be provided to effect this "end.

In thepresent instance such means com prises an abutment member r secured to the top of the anchor in such a position as to be engaged by the lower arm of bell crank lever 2'- when the buoy rests upon or is in contact with the upwardly extending portion 0a of the anchor. This prevents said arm moving to the right so as to release ring d from pm 9. r V V The operation of the complete apparatus shown in- Fig. l is obvious from the foregoing. 'VV hen the mine is to be placed, the apparatus is launched with the lever A in the position indicated in the drawing. The whole apparatus sinks downwardly to the bottom, whereupon the cable drum is released by contact of the tail D of the pawl A with the bottom, the detent C being thus moved out of locking position-against the Us Y pressure of spring E which normally holds it in engagement with the drum. The buoy thereupon is free to rise from its anchor and ascends through the water, the mooring cable being paid out by the rotating cable drum. lVhen the buoy has reached a point at a predetermined depth below the surface of the water, the hydrostatic pressure on the outer face of the diaphragm 6 has diminished to such an extent as to be over-balanced by the pressure in the chamber 2;, the diaphragm thus moving downward and thereby actuating the lever m in such a manner as to draw pin 9 to the right, releasing ring d and thereby also abruptly diminishing the tension on the mooring cable by reason of the reserve loop 72 thereof being suddenly called into service. This sudden decrease in the cable tension permits spring 11 to draw lever arm on to the left to release the locking bolt 0, which thereupon engages between the teeth of the drum wheel and locks the drum against rotation.

Referring now to the modification of the tension regulating mechanism shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that in this case the mopring cable is secured to a plate or bar 6 which is movable vertically in a slotted casing t in which is arranged a spring u which tends to thrust said plate upwardly. Suitably pivoted to the buoy are bell crank levers 8 whose lower arms are suitably formed to normally engage the upper side of member 25, and whose upper arms extend toward each other and are both arranged to be engaged at their adjacent ends by the lower end of a member j secured to the diaphragm e. The arrangement of the diaphragm and the inner pressure chamber are substantially as previously described.

In order to hold the tension regulating mechanism inoperative while the buoy and its anchor are in contact, a pair of abutment members 1 are mounted on the anchor in suitable position to engage the levers s and hold them against outward movement of their lower arms when the buoy rests on the supporting portion 00 of the anchor.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is as follows: Upon ascent of the .buoy to the desired depth below the surface,the diaphragm e is moved downwardly as before described, and thereby moves the lower ends of levers s outwardly to disengage them from member t, thus releasing said member and allowing it to be suddenly thrust upward by its actuating spring. This produces an increase of tension on the mooring cable in the form of a sharp jerk or pull which serves to draw lever arm m sharply to the right against the restraining force of spring n, thereby releasing bolt 0 and locking the cable drum.

Fig. 3 represents apparatus capable of actuating the drum-locking device by means of a lateral jerk on the mooring cable. In

vibratory oscillation which its upper end has received. This vibration sets in motion another diapason 6 suitably mounted on the anchor. This second diapason as it vibrates pushes lever 7 and thereupon liberates lever 8, the latter in its turn liberating the bolt 0 through the medium of lever 8 and thereby locking the cable drum.

Member amounted as above described on the anchor, is arranged to engage the lower arm of lever 1 when the buoy and its anchor are assembled, thus preventing release of hammer 2. A member 10 secured to the buoy is also provided to enter through a suitable aperture in the top of the anchor and in this position to press lever 9 downwardly against the tension of a restraining spring into the position shown in dotted lines, whereby lever 7 is securely held against actuation by diapason 6.

lVhat I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination, with a buoy, an anchor member provided with cable-carrying means, and a cable secured to said buoy and to said cable-carrying means, said cablecarrying means being arranged under certain conditions to pay out said cable and thus to permit said buoy and anchor to relatively recede or separate, of means operable upon change in the character of the pull or tension on the cable as it is being paid out to prevent further paying out thereof, and means for changing the character of the cable pull when the buoy is at a predetermined depth below the surface of the water.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination, with a buoy, an anchor member provided with cable-carrying means, and a cable secured to said buoy and to said cable-carrying means, said cablecarrying means being arranged to pay out said cable and thus to permit said buoy and anchor to relatively recede or separate, of means operable upon change in magnitude in the pull or tension of the cable as it is being paid out to prevent further paying out thereof, and means for varying the magnitude of the cable pull when the buoy is at a predetermined depth below the surface of the water.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination, with a buoy, an

4. Apparatus" of the character described comprising the combination, with a buoyant mine, an anchor therefor provided with a cable drum, and a cable connecting the anchor with said mine and wound upon said drum, said drum being arranged under certain conditions to pay out said cable andthus to permit said mine and anchor to relatively recede or separate, of mechanism operable upon change in the character of the pull or tension onthe cable as it is being. paid out to, prevent further paying out thereof, and means carried by said mine and sensitive to variations in hydrostatic pressure for setting said mechanism in operation when the mine is at a predetermined depth below the surface of the water. I l 5. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination, with a buoyant mine, and an anchor therefor provided with a cable drum, of a cable attached at more than one point along its length to said mine and also attached to and arranged to be paid out by said cable drum, mechanism operable by variation in the cable pull or tension to prevent said cable being paid out, and means operating when the mine is at a predetermined depth to release said cable at one of its points of attachment to the mine and thereby to produce a variation in the cable tension. w

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a buoy, an anchor member provided with cable-feeding means and a cable connecting the buoy with the cable-feeding means, of means tending to engage and arrest said cable-feeding means,

a member normally'holding such arresting means inoperative, andfmeans connecting",

said, member with the cable and arranged, upon suitable variation in the cable tension,

toa'ctuate said holding member and thereby to release such arresting means.

'7; In apparatus of the character described, the combination, With a buoy, an anchor member provided with cable feeding means and a cable connecting the buoywith the" cable-feeding means,-'of a detent adapted to engage and arrest said cable-feeding means,

resilient means tending to force said detent the force exerted by said spring, whereby,

when the. tension of said cable, is suitably varied, such opposing'force's become unbalanced and the latch member is moved to release said detent. I 8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a buoy, and an anchor therefor provided with means for carrying and paying out cable, of a cable connected to the cable-paying means and adjustably attached to said buoy, means carried by said buoy and sensitive to changes in'hydrostatic pressure for varying the adjustable attach ment of the cable to the buoy, and means carried by said anchor andarran'ged to prevent operation of such attachment-varying means when the buoy and anchor arej substantially in contact. a

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

JEAN ALEXANDRE REY.

Witnesses HANSON O. COXE," GrASTON DEV MESTRAL.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I Washington, D. 0; 

